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Stigma” is a Greek term originally referring to bodily signs such as a burn or a cut to denote a negative/depreciative condition referred to a person (eg, being a slave, a criminal, a sinner, or a social outcast) and, therefore, to indicate which people should be “avoided.” 1 Currently, stigma is not usually related to a purely physical sign but frequently includes the negative discriminatory thoughts, feelings, and behaviors towards people with certain physical, behavioral, or racial features perceived as displeasing or a threat by other members of the society. 1

Since its appearance in December 2019, COVID-19 has fueled fear, anxiety, and panic worldwide, due to its novelty, high infectivity, and absence of effective evidence-based treatment. 2, 3 Faced with this blurry and uncertain situation, fear and its associated behaviors are not uncommon human reactions. The wide media coverage of the pandemic has contributed to …